If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be finding that some manufacturers are making a lot of claims. And most of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to better your Cambridge house’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As newer homes don’t typically let in as much outside air as older homes, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Pliescott HVAC Services LLC can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 410-228-4822 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our recommendations to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being redistributed.

These filters may have a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your entire house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can give many outstanding health advantages. Here are several of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease irritants in your house, such as some of these common triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Reduces Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other symptoms linked to low indoor air quality. These include:

  • Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

It can be difficult to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, as they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.

3. Eliminates Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having difficulties with removing persistent smells in your residence, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Chance of Getting Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health especially during winter months. To get total advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several features to skip when picking a system for your residence:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, including hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This option operates alongside your heating and cooling system.

When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Pliescott HVAC Services LLC, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 410-228-4822 to start breathing healthier air now!